# Does Starbucks have a secret menu or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172 "2005-01-11T05:10:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/41 "2005-01-12T18:59:28Z")
> [@Ashkicker](#): > > Holy cow I went to Starbucks this morning and had the new [Chantico](http://http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverage_detail.asp?selProducts=162&strAction=GETDEFAULT&x=26&y=1) drinking chocolate. It was outta this world. Pure chocolate. Mmmm. But at 51 carbs for 6 oz. that is way too many carbs for me. :eek: Tried this last week after hearing about it on the dope. It’s—ummmmm—rich. It was good, but I don’t think I’d be able to drink it more than once a month. The description s of it as drinking a melted chocolate bar are spot-on. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/42 "2005-01-12T19:34:18Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Tried this last week after hearing about it on the dope. It’s—ummmmm—rich. It was good, but I don’t think I’d be able to drink it more than once a month. The description s of it as drinking a melted chocolate bar are spot-on. Just sent my co-worker to Starbucks to pick me one up. In the process of passing it around the office. This is the drink of the gods. ---
**Author:** ![Aragowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/da6949/32.png) [@Aragowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aragowyn)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/43 "2005-01-12T23:17:49Z")
If you go to a [Peet’s](http://www.peets.com) (originated in Berkeley, found mostly in the west coast), you can get a ‘smarge’ which is a small brewed coffee served in a large cup. Why the large cup? Because Peet’s coffee is how coffee everywhere should be brewed: so strong that you need the extra cup space for your creamer of choice. Also you can order a ‘smarge split’ (half caf, half decaf) – again, because Peet’s Octane level is so high. Not sure if it’s at the level of secret menu since I don’t know if it works at all Peet’s. Plus it’s not mentioned on their website. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/44 "2005-01-12T23:30:43Z")
> [@Aragowyn](#): > > If you go to a [Peet’s](http://www.peets.com) (originated in Berkeley, found mostly in the west coast), you can get a ‘smarge’ which is a small brewed coffee served in a large cup. Why the large cup? Because Peet’s coffee is how coffee everywhere should be brewed: so strong that you need the extra cup space for your creamer of choice. > > Also you can order a ‘smarge split’ (half caf, half decaf) – again, because Peet’s Octane level is so high. > > Not sure if it’s at the level of secret menu since I don’t know if it works at all Peet’s. Plus it’s not mentioned on their website. If you like extra octaned coffee, you can get a drip coffee with a shot of espresso in it. I like doing this from time to time, and every coffee place can accomodate you. I know this drink as a “Red Eye,” although it may go by different names. Oh, and no room for cream for me, thankyouverymuch. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/45 "2005-01-13T00:17:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Customer: Yeah, I’d like a large mocha, no whiping cream, non-fat milk, about half the chocolate and one squirt of peppermint please. > > “Barista”: You want a Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha non fat no whip mocha? > > Customer: You know what? go ahead and put whip on there - and add a couple of shots. > > “Barista”: Ok, so you want a Quad Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha non fat with whip mocha? > > Customer: Ok, can you make that half decaf in a double cup? > > “Barista”: sigh. So that’s a double cupped half-decaf Quad Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha non fat with whip mocha? > > Customer: Is that drink Aktins friendly? > > “Barista”: I dunno > > Customer: Let’s add sugar free vanilla,… and make that with half and half. > > “Barista”: grunts Ok, so you want a double cupped half-decaf Quad Venti One pump peppermint two and a half pump mocha sugar-free vanilla breve with whip mocha? > > Customer: Naw. That sounds kind of gross. What kind of tea do you have? This guy was in front of me in line last week. In these parts, a shot of espresso in a cup of coffee is known as a “depth charge.” ---
**Author:** ![Yamirskoonir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c0e974/32.png) [@Yamirskoonir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yamirskoonir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/46 "2005-01-13T01:14:46Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > In these parts, a shot of espresso in a cup of coffee is known as a “depth charge.” In my Starbucks district, we called that a “Red eye.” Two shots was a “Black eye.” Three or more was fondly dubbed a “Dump Truck.” This thread sure brings back memories…I almost did my English Ethnography project on retail coffee shop culture, complete with lingo (‘cause that was the fun part). But then I quit, after the third manager change and fourth complete turnover of staff in under a year. And it was summer…at a drive-thru store…where drive-thru customers commonly ordered 16 Frappuccinos at a time…and we had only ONE FREAKIN’ BLENDER!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/47 "2005-01-13T04:42:49Z")
> [@Yamirskoonir](#): > > And it was summer…at a drive-thru store…where drive-thru customers commonly ordered 16 Frappuccinos at a time…and we had only ONE FREAKIN’ BLENDER!!! OMG!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: I almost cried for you reading that. I can’t believe I missed this thread for so long. :smack: Seems like everyone else pretty much covered it. I just had a Chantico tonight when I went into work thinking I was late and it turned out I wasn’t even scheduled tonight. First time I had it, I thought it was disgusting. Too sweet, too thick. I’ve tried it a couple more times and it’s growing on me. But I was told that it’s modeled after chocolate drinks from Europe which are usually made with bitter dark chocolate. It’s been milked and sweetened to appeal to the American palate. What a shame. It is pretty good if you have the barista sprinkle a little cinnamon on top and do not pass up the dunking cookie. Aah, bliss. It’s served in a 6 oz. cup and I heard a rumor tonight that a customer actually came into another store around here and ordered a venti (20 oz!!!) after sampling it the day before. And I thought those whipping cream latte Atkins people were freaks! The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/48 "2005-01-13T05:44:54Z")
Maybe this goes without saying, but something I didn’t know Starbucks offered was a Short. Makes since since the offer a Tall, but it was never on the menu. It is great if you just want a little coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/49 "2005-01-13T05:48:56Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > But I was told that it’s modeled after chocolate drinks from Europe which are usually made with bitter dark chocolate. It’s been milked and sweetened to appeal to the American palate. What a shame. I pefer dark chocolate, but I know almost no one else that does. Everyone else says it’s too bitter, and because of this chocolate discrimination it’s hard to find dark chocolate these days. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/50 "2005-01-13T05:53:14Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I pefer dark chocolate, but I know almost no one else that does. Everyone else says it’s too bitter, and because of this chocolate discrimination it’s hard to find dark chocolate these days. I’m with you. Dark chocolate is clearly the nectar of the Gods. All else pales in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Zonyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zonyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zonyx)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/51 "2005-01-13T12:16:25Z")
> [@Ashkicker](#): > > Holy cow I went to Starbucks this morning and had the new [Chantico](http://http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverage_detail.asp?selProducts=162&strAction=GETDEFAULT&x=26&y=1) drinking chocolate. It was outta this world. Pure chocolate. Mmmm. But at 51 carbs for 6 oz. that is way too many carbs for me. :eek: mmmmmmmmmm. Sounds so good. And there isn’t even a Starbucks in this backwards country!! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/52 "2005-01-13T12:46:31Z")
Dark chocolate…I hate you all. I live no where convenient to a Starbucks and I now, because of all you LOSERS, have to freaking SUFFER and Torture MYself by Thinking About It until I can get a Chantico or Chanticleer or Chianti (whatever) in the AM and enjoy it. I hate you all. but in a good way. Oh, and I will HAPPILY accept a $25 Starbucks gift card. Or any other kind of gift card for that matter. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/53 "2005-01-13T12:52:50Z")
**Seven** , your post made me spit on my monitor. > [@Kythereia](#): > > The secret menu? You mean, the one they serve to the Illuminati Overlords? I for one welcome our new supercaffeinated overlords. What? ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/54 "2005-01-13T17:55:35Z")
> [@heraldgwena](#): > > Maybe this goes without saying, but something I didn’t know Starbucks offered was a Short. Makes since since the offer a Tall, but it was never on the menu. It is great if you just want a little coffee. This thread is full of great info! If I only wanted a tiny bit of coffee, could I ask for a Wee? ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/55 "2005-01-13T18:23:56Z")
> [@heraldgwena](#): > > Maybe this goes without saying, but something I didn’t know Starbucks offered was a Short. Makes since since the offer a Tall, but it was never on the menu. It is great if you just want a little coffee. Short = 8 oz (commonly the volume of restaurant coffee cups) Tall = 12 oz Grande\* = 16 oz Venti\* = 20 oz - Why the funny names? Because Howard Schultz was inspired by the Italian coffeehouse and modeled Starbucks (adjusted to the American experience) after it. Grande and venti translate to _large_ and _twenty_ in Italian. That’s also why a Cafe Au Lait (French for coffee with milk) is called a Caffe Misto, an Italian drink for coffee _compounded_ with milk. **vivalostwages** , you might get a funny look the first time you order a “Wee Coffee,” but if you’re a regular, eventually they’ll remember what you’re talking about. Ordering a “small” though will usually get you a Tall in my store as not many people order Shorts or want Shorts when they ask for a small. I suppose that’s probably why it’s not on the menu (that, and space/readability considerations). A short, in my region, is only ten cents cheaper, so I guess Tall would be a better value, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Yamirskoonir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c0e974/32.png) [@Yamirskoonir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yamirskoonir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/56 "2005-01-13T18:47:19Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > OMG!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: > > I almost cried for you reading that. I wept for me too! I think our Worst Rush Ever™ was that one Thursday night at approximately 9 pm when we had 50+ cups, beginning at the espresso machine and snaking its way back and forth across the counter, and then crossing the registers, until we continued the line over by the drip station. Only 3 Baristas on the floor because of 2 no-shows – now I think I DID cry that night! ☹ > [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > Short = 8 oz (commonly the volume of restaurant coffee cups) > Tall = 12 oz > Grande\* = 16 oz > Venti\* = 20 oz > > - Why the funny names? Because Howard Schultz was inspired by the Italian coffeehouse and modeled Starbucks (adjusted to the American experience) after it. > > Grande and venti translate to large and twenty in Italian. Another fun misconception about sizes: we all know what “Grande” means in Spanish. One of the stores I worked in for a year had a predominately Hispanic clientele. I can’t tell you how many times I handed a person their drink and they demanded I remake it, saying they wanted the “large” size! Yeah, I _really_ miss that job. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/57 "2005-01-13T19:07:16Z")
> [@Yamirskoonir](#): > > I wept for me too! I think our Worst Rush Ever™ was that one Thursday night at approximately 9 pm when we had 50+ cups, beginning at the espresso machine and snaking its way back and forth across the counter, and then crossing the registers, until we continued the line over by the drip station. Only 3 Baristas on the floor because of 2 no-shows – now I think I DID cry that night! ☹ Been there, done that. My worst experience was when I was new. Fortunately, I wasn’t on the bar, but I was at the frap station in a little cubby hole with two blenders, no counter space to speak of and I don’t know how many cups. It was pour, blend, pour, rinse, repeat for a solid hour. No time to make anything but drinks. Concurrently, the horror at the bar, a four-group Verisimo: they had completely cleared the top of the bar to make room for the cups and was filled completely back to front. More cups at the registers waiting to get in the queue at the bar. The two baristas at the bar were veterans, but one lady (who was usually a model of calm and collectedness) actually did sob audibly and for a long time _while she was making the drinks_. I felt so bad for her; she could actually see the line out the door and plenty more people just standing there waiting impatiently for their drinks. I think we made nearly a day of normal sales in that single period. When it was over, the place was trashed and we were out of everything (pastry case was practically empty, no more whipped cream, and we’d gone through probably 10 gallons of frap)! I don’t know how much longer we could have taken that. It took at least an hour to recover. And our market is nothing like that of Chicago, L.A., NYC, or Seattle. We’re all green when it comes to rushes like that. ☹ All I want to know is why would you even stick around to order when you walk in and see something like that? I know it’s good stuff, but sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Yamirskoonir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c0e974/32.png) [@Yamirskoonir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yamirskoonir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/58 "2005-01-13T19:23:37Z")
> [@Cinnamon Girl](#): > > All I want to know is why would you even stick around to order when you walk in and see something like that? I know it’s good stuff, but sheesh! To watch the melt-down, why else? 😃 Even Baristas do this to each other…a couple of people from my store covered another local store while their staff had their holiday party. After their party, about 20 of them came back to the store to order drinks, and then laughed at us when we couldn’t find things and offered absolutely no help whatsoever. Lest this turn into a complete hijack by **Cinnamon Girl** and me bitching about our worst/favorite retail coffee shop work moments, my contribution to the OP: It’s only “secret” if the store’s staff isn’t doing a good job of sampling and actively pushing customers to try new products, or a variation on their favorite drink. 'Cause if you didn’t hear the radio ad, how are you going to know what’s new or different on the menu with the CRAP signage Starbucks has?! ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/59 "2005-01-13T19:57:27Z")
> [@Yamirskoonir](#): > > To watch the melt-down, why else? 😃 > > Even Baristas do this to each other…a couple of people from my store covered another local store while their staff had their holiday party. After their party, about 20 of them came back to the store to order drinks, and then laughed at us when we couldn’t find things and offered absolutely no help whatsoever. And when word gets around, that store’s going to have a hard time finding another store to cover for them ever again. What goes around, ya know. Goodbye, holiday parties for the whole store. > [@](#): > > Lest this turn into a complete hijack by **Cinnamon Girl** and me bitching about our worst/favorite retail coffee shop work moments, my contribution to the OP: > It’s only “secret” if the store’s staff isn’t doing a good job of sampling and actively pushing customers to try new products, or a variation on their favorite drink. Well put. My apologies to **vivalostwages** for the hijack. It’s nice to hear from others who’ve been in the caffeine trenches. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172/60 "2005-01-14T01:02:42Z")
I don’t mind the hijacks. I’m learning so much more than I had hoped for! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-starbucks-have-a-secret-menu-or-not/284172.md?page=4)